Final Fantasy XIV Converts Your Cash To Crysta

With Final Fantasy XIV launching tonight for purchasers of the Collector's Edition, Square Enix introduces Crysta, a new payment method for players of the company's online titles.

Sony Online Entertainment has Station Cash, Nexon has Nexon Cash, and now Square Enix has Crysta, a new payment system that sounds like a delicious, low-calorie beverage from the early '90s. Crysta will give players of games like Final Fantasy XIV a secure method for paying for subscriptions and security tokens.

In North America, one dollar will equal 100 Crysta. Players will be able to buy Crysta in $US5, $US10, $US20, $US30, $US50 and $US100 blocks using their credit card or prepaid cards purchased wherever such things are sold.

The new system launches with Final Fantasy XIV, with plans to integrate it into future offerings down the line.

"With Crysta, Square Enix continues our dedication to protecting and serving our customers," said Mike Fischer, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. "We're extremely pleased to be offering this new service in conjunction with the launch of FINAL FANTASY XIV, offering fans a secure and simple method to manage their subscriptions."

Having experienced multiple instances of my credit card information escaping from online games, I welcome anything that keeps my numbers out of the hands of folks who aren't me.

Comments

cheese Guest

Sep 22, 2010, 11:09pm

If you still need to use a credit card to purchase it (as one of the offered payment methods) doesn't that mean it's kind of redundant? This looks more like a way to complicate the payment system and have players be less aware of how much they are spending. We are intimately familiar with $ but when making purches in Crysta our mental triggers we apply to normal money are less likely to trigger. Plus it has all the downfalls of a gift certificate.

Triple AAA games nailing the brief. Indie games surprising people out of nowhere, and expansions and patches that completely turn a game around. It's been a good year for games - now it's time for you to vote for your favourite.